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Letter from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson (February 10, 1812)

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In this letter to Thomas Jefferson, dated February 10, 1812, John Adams mentions having
received publications prophesying the end of the world by two Virginians, Christopher McPherson and
Nimrod Hughes.

Transcription from Original

Quincy Feb. 10 1812

Dear Sir

I have received with great pleasure your favour of the 23 of January. I suspected
that the Sample was left at the Post Office and that you would Soon have it. I regret
the Shabby Condition in which you found it: but it was the only Copy I had, and I
thought it Scarcely worth while to wait till I could get a Sett properly bound.

The Dissertation on the State of real homespun was a feast to me, who delight in
every Information of that kind. In a moral œconomical and political point of View, it
ought to be considered by every American Man Woman and child as a most precious
Improvement in the Condition and prosperity of our Country.

Although you and I are weary of Politicks; you may be Surprised to find me making a
Transition to Such a Subject as Prophecies. I find that Virginia produces Prophets,
as well as the Indiana Territory. There have been lately Sent me, from Richmond two
Volumes, one written by Nimrod Hewes and the other by Christopher Macpherson; both, upon Prophecies, and neither, ill written. I Should apprehend that two
Such Mulattoes might raise the Devil among the Negroes in that Vicinity: for though
they are evidently cracked, they are not much more irrational than Dr Towers who wrote two ponderous Vollumes, near twenty years ago to prove that
The French Revolution was the Commencement of the Millenium, and the decapitation of
The King of France but the beginning of a Series, immediately to follow, by which all
The Monarchies were to be destroyed and Succeeded by universal Republicanism over all
Europe: nor than Dr Priestly who told me Soberly, cooly and
deliberately that though he knew of Nothing in human Nature or in the History of
Mankind to justify the opinion, Yet he fully believed upon the Authority of
Prophecy, that the French Nation would establish a free Government and that The King
of France who had been executed, was the first of the Ten Horns of the great Beast
and that all the other Nine Monarks were Soon to fall off after him; nor than The
Reverend Mr Faber who has lately written a very elegant and learned Volume to prove that
Napoleon is Antichrist; nor than our worthy Friend Mr Joseph
Wharton of Philadelphia, who in consequence of great Reading and profound Study has
long Since Settled his opinion, that the City of London is or is to be the Head
Quarters of Antichrist; Nor than the Prophet of The Wabash, of whom I want to know
more than I do, because I learn that the Indians the Sons of the Forrest are as
Superstitious as any of the great learned Men aforesaid and as firm believers in
Witchcraft as all Europe and America were in the Seventeenth Century and as
frequently punish Witches by Splitting their Sculls with the Tomahawk, after a Solemn
Tryal and Adjudication by the Sachems and Warriours in Council.

The Crusades were commenced by the Prophets and every Age Since, whenever any great
Turmoil happens in the World, has produced fresh Prophets. The Continual Refutation
of all their Prognostications by Time and Experience has no Effect in extinguishing
or damping their Ardor.

I think, these Prophecies are not only unphilosophical and inconsistent
with the political Safety of States and Nations; but that the most Sincere and Sober
Christians in the World ought upon their own Principles to hold them impious, for
nothing is clearer from their Scriptures [than] that Their Prophecies were not
intended to make Us Prophets.

Pardon this Strange Vagary. I want only to know Something more than I do about the
Richmond and Wabash Prophets.

called to Company and to dinner I have only time to repeat the assurances of the
Friendship and Respect of